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Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Gibbon Falls, Yellowstone Canyon, and Steamboat Geyser

It was snowing in West Yellowstone when we got up on the morning of October 6, 2018, greatly reducing visibility, but so pretty.

Our chief goal for the day was to visit Yellowstone Canyon, particularly the Artist Point overlook, for views of Lower Falls. Our route to the canyon took us past Gibbon Falls, which always requires a photo stop.

Gibbon Falls

A young woman traveling alone asked if we would take her picture at the falls. Of course, we were happy to oblige. And, when she offered to return the favor, we happily accepted. We rarely get pictures of ourselves on our vacations, so it's a treat when someone offers, especially someone with some knowledge of photography and cameras, as this woman evidenced.


As we continued on to the canyon area, we passed through the most beautiful snowy scenery.


Artist Point is almost always crowded with tourists, especially during the warmer months. But I was surprised at how many people were there on this cold and snowy day. We weren't the only crazies.

The view down the canyon, looking away from the falls, is also beautiful.

On the way back to the parking lot, we met a couple that had asked us to take their picture at Gibbon Falls. After we had taken theirs, they offered to take ours; but we didn't accept their offer since the other young woman had already done us that favor. Meeting again here at Artist Point, though, we exchanged cameras and took pictures of each other, with Lower Falls in the background.

Following is a short video clip of Lower Falls.


Yellowstone National Park is home to Steamboat Geyser, the world's tallest currently-active geyser. A very unpredictable geyser, it was once quiet for 50 years, between 1911 and 1961. When it became "active" again, there were dormant periods of varying length, some as long as eight years, between eruptions. But, in 2018, Steamboat erupted 32 times, breaking its previous record of 29 eruptions in 1964. 

With Steamboat's increased activity, it was definitely on our list of things to see in Yellowstone on this trip. When we arrived at the viewing area, we found several people bundled up in sleeping bags, protecting, as best they could, expensive camera equipment from the snowy day and steam from the geyser. It was believed that the next eruption was only a matter of hours away, and they were determined to be there when it happened.



We stayed for awhile, each burst of water from the hole giving us hope that we would see an eruption; but we lacked the patience of those with the sleeping bags. Besides, we needed to get back to the motel and pack up to leave West Yellowstone in the morning. So we left, not having been among those who had been privileged to view a full eruption of Steamboat in its most active year in history.

Checking on Steamboat's eruption history later, I learned that the eruption that was expected within a few hours didn't occur until two days later, on October 8. I'm glad we didn't wait.

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures. It is so wonderful when someone offers to get your picture.I know I would appreciate that's I have at times offered that same service to others. Love those falls.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth. I usually offer, too, especially if I see one member of a group taking a picture of the others in the group. But they don't always reciprocate.

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  2. I'd love to be in that area when it was snowing. SO beautiful.... We saw lots of waterfalls when we were there in Sept..... Gibbon Fall is SO pretty. I never had the patience or times to wait for an eruption...

    Thanks for the memories.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Oh, Betsy. The snow was absolutely gorgeous. My photos don't do it justice. We don't mind waiting for the predictable geysers. But geysers that sometimes go eight years between eruptions? No, thanks. :-)

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  3. Wow such amazing landscpapes and wonderous natural beauty. I really like the road shot with the snowy trees around it.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. Thank you, Mersad. Yellowstone is a most amazing place. The snow made it extra special this time.

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  4. Thanks for the memories. We always have to make a photo stop at Gibbons Falls as well. We didn't see any major geyser eruptions this past year, although we saw some smaller ones in Black Sands basin.

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    1. We remember when we had to risk life and limb to get a picture of Gibbon Falls, George. That nice parking lot and viewing area weren't always there. But, even then, we couldn't resist stopping for a photo. The only significant geyser we saw on this trip was Old Faithful, and it didn't seem like as good an eruption as usual. We wondered if Steamboat was affecting the other geysers.

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  5. Was glad to have a clean hanky today, got snow all over me and my camera. Breathtaking scenes, I used to watch a few of their cams

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    1. Thank you, Steve. It would be interesting to watch the cameras from there. Glad you had that hanky. Did you walk under a tree that dumped snow on you?

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  6. The view down the canyon is impressive and I love the video capturing the falls, getting from the detail to that deeper view, looks beautiful. You have a nice memory saved in those photos of both of you, lovely to see you. :)

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    1. Aren't the colors amazing in that view down the canyon, Petra? I'm glad you enjoyed seeing the photos of Doug and me. I don't post too many photos of ourselves...partly because we don't have that many of the two of us together. The video was shot by Doug. I'll let him know you enjoyed it.

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  7. Well, the self-timer of the camera makes it possible to take pictures of ourselves without needing to depend on others doing us a favor. We only have to find the proper spot to put the camera, and that's not easy anywhere.

    Eruption of geysers (like, but not as dangerous as those of volcanoes) are spectacular . Anyway, your photos even without the eruptions are quite awsome!

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    1. We do occasionally use the self-timer, Duta; but, as you say, it's not always easy to find a safe spot to place the camera, especially in crowds or bad weather. When we took our driving trip to Alaska, we took a tripod for those selfies. There were seldom any other people around to ask. Thanks for the kind words about the photos.

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  8. What an amazing place and you tow are looking good as well. Fabulous video of the falls

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  9. So beautiful!

    Your new friend is a wonderful photographer. :)

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    1. Thank you, Sandi. There were actually two "new friends," one at Gibbon Falls and another at Lower Falls; and both were skilled photographers. We were blessed.

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  10. Everyone of these posts I look at I think it just couldn't get any better and then you post the next one and I think the same thing. They each are great in their own right, but this one is my favorite because of the pictures of you and Doug. God bless those people who took the time to take those! Stay warm, my friend.

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    1. Aw, thanks, Dianna. So sweet of you to say this is your favorite because it had pictures of Doug and me. I'm having so much fun reliving this trip as I post about it. I'll be sorry to see it end. But that will be awhile. We're only about halfway through the trip so far. :)

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